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20 Interesting Things from Monster Manual 2
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<blockquote data-quote="DreadPirateMurphy" data-source="post: 4813116" data-attributes="member: 20715"><p>Here are the things that stand out as I read MM2, mostly musing. Feel free to post what you thought was interesting/weird/good.</p><p></p><p>1) I think the images of smooth-faced angels are rather bland compared to earlier edition celestials.</p><p></p><p>2) Ankhegs have a "taste for bipedal prey." As opposed to quadrapeds? Maybe leg bones are harder to crunch?</p><p></p><p>3) The images of the giant ants seem stretched out and emaciated, kind of like an insect version of Kate Moss.</p><p></p><p>4) Barghests are now "savage goblin shapeshifters" rather than outsiders. Works for me.</p><p></p><p>5) The beholder eye of frost has frost-based attacks. Fits the theme, but aren't a lot of fantasy prey kind of immune to cold if they live in the frozen wastes? Also, reminds me of some kind of machine-made exotic ice cube.</p><p></p><p>6) Bullywugs "turn any swamp they inhabit into a dismal echo of the land it once was." I'm guessing that a dismal echo of a <em>swamp</em> would be <em>really</em> dismal.</p><p></p><p>7) Centaurs serve as mercenaries a lot. That is actually a nice little bit of flavor that fits the feel of the race.</p><p></p><p>8) I'm still not used to the deva as a PC race.</p><p></p><p>9) Pics of the djinn are much cooler than previous editions -- more elemental and less Aladdin.</p><p></p><p>10) Unaligned metallic dragons make for more interesting beasties, IMNSHO.</p><p></p><p>11) Duergar have quills, as I've pointed out elsewhere on the boards. This is amusing to me.</p><p></p><p>12) Having a "human insane noble" as a monster entry is just weird to me. If you're going to feature an insane noble, it should be an NPC with some thought put into him. Again, just my opinion.</p><p></p><p>13) I really like the recasting of ogre mages as oni. It feels less like anime that has been dubbed and edited for afternoon cartoon viewing.</p><p></p><p>14) Green slime is a monster again, rather than a terrain feature.</p><p></p><p>15) Aboleth skum are no longer humanoids, but actual oozy scum.</p><p></p><p>16) Rust monsters captures the residium from eaten magic weapons. So, does rust monster poop glow under <em>detect magic</em>?</p><p></p><p>17) I'm guessing they did away with the andro-/gyno-/crio-/hieraco- breakdown for sphinxes (sphinces?) because the distinctions were vague?</p><p></p><p>18) Star Spawn seem like a clear nod to Cthulu-type gaming. They are creepy in a way that pseudonatural creatures never seemed to be.</p><p></p><p>19) Steel predators have a new back story tying them to Bane. I'm ambivalent about this.</p><p></p><p>20) For some reason, I really like the Troll Vinespeakers. They add something to the concept of trolls.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, just some thoughts now that I've had a chance to sit down and read through MM2 in more detail.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DreadPirateMurphy, post: 4813116, member: 20715"] Here are the things that stand out as I read MM2, mostly musing. Feel free to post what you thought was interesting/weird/good. 1) I think the images of smooth-faced angels are rather bland compared to earlier edition celestials. 2) Ankhegs have a "taste for bipedal prey." As opposed to quadrapeds? Maybe leg bones are harder to crunch? 3) The images of the giant ants seem stretched out and emaciated, kind of like an insect version of Kate Moss. 4) Barghests are now "savage goblin shapeshifters" rather than outsiders. Works for me. 5) The beholder eye of frost has frost-based attacks. Fits the theme, but aren't a lot of fantasy prey kind of immune to cold if they live in the frozen wastes? Also, reminds me of some kind of machine-made exotic ice cube. 6) Bullywugs "turn any swamp they inhabit into a dismal echo of the land it once was." I'm guessing that a dismal echo of a [I]swamp[/I] would be [I]really[/I] dismal. 7) Centaurs serve as mercenaries a lot. That is actually a nice little bit of flavor that fits the feel of the race. 8) I'm still not used to the deva as a PC race. 9) Pics of the djinn are much cooler than previous editions -- more elemental and less Aladdin. 10) Unaligned metallic dragons make for more interesting beasties, IMNSHO. 11) Duergar have quills, as I've pointed out elsewhere on the boards. This is amusing to me. 12) Having a "human insane noble" as a monster entry is just weird to me. If you're going to feature an insane noble, it should be an NPC with some thought put into him. Again, just my opinion. 13) I really like the recasting of ogre mages as oni. It feels less like anime that has been dubbed and edited for afternoon cartoon viewing. 14) Green slime is a monster again, rather than a terrain feature. 15) Aboleth skum are no longer humanoids, but actual oozy scum. 16) Rust monsters captures the residium from eaten magic weapons. So, does rust monster poop glow under [I]detect magic[/I]? 17) I'm guessing they did away with the andro-/gyno-/crio-/hieraco- breakdown for sphinxes (sphinces?) because the distinctions were vague? 18) Star Spawn seem like a clear nod to Cthulu-type gaming. They are creepy in a way that pseudonatural creatures never seemed to be. 19) Steel predators have a new back story tying them to Bane. I'm ambivalent about this. 20) For some reason, I really like the Troll Vinespeakers. They add something to the concept of trolls. Anyway, just some thoughts now that I've had a chance to sit down and read through MM2 in more detail. [/QUOTE]
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